🎨 Potential new arts tax for high-income earners

😷 Southeast Portland Trader Joe's Closes Due to Asbestos

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) requested the immediate closure of the Southeast Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard location of Trader Joe's on Wednesday evening. The store will remain closed until the asbestos is fully under control. Asbestos has been linked to causing lung cancer and other serious diseases, but the DEQ said the risk to customers is low due to "the short exposure time." [KGW]

🍸 Damian Lillard's Swanky New Portland Sports Bar

Trail Blazers icon Damian Lillard is part owner of the new Portland sports lounge, Honorable Mention, which opens to the public today. Located below the Benson Hotel in Downtown Portland, the bar’s name is a reference to "pioneering Black athletes from Ivy League schools," the Oregonian reports. The bar will also showcase artwork from local Black artists. [Oregonian]

🎨 Another City Arts Tax?

City Council President Jamie Dunphy is looking to reform Portland's deeply unpopular city arts tax and add an additional tax on Portlanders for using entertainment streaming services to better fund artists in our city. Although still in the early stages, Councilor Dunphy is considering raising the arts tax to $50 annually for high earners and removing the tax entirely for low-income Portlanders. The new tax on streaming services like Netflix and Spotify would go towards supporting music, dance, and theater events exclusively. [Oregonian]

⛽️ A Gas Tax Lawsuit, a Local Clinic Closed, and DeRemer Drama

Today on the podcast, I join executive producer John Notarianni and Willamette Week City Hall reporter Sophie Peel to discuss the wild drama surrounding the only Oregonian in President Trump's Cabinet, the legal fights and political fallout over the gas tax bill, and a neighborhood clinic that's closing after being bought by a healthcare mega-corporation. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Last week’s scavenger hunt was quickly identified by some regulars:

“Lottie & Zula's, next to the Wonder Ballroom. Used to be Toro Bravo!” wrote reader Erin C.

“Ooh, is that the nook inside Lottie and Zula’s?” wrote reader MH. “Used to be a tiny record store in there so the music at L&Z’s was always good.”

“Amazing sandwiches, great music,” wrote reader Edward P.

“My go-to spot for breakfast sandwiches,” wrote reader Leslie S.

“Reliable sandwich fare & loud music,” wrote a reader who identified as Generalist Jane.

“Delicious sandwiches,” wrote reader Alli D.

This week’s scavenger hunt comes from reader Alex G:

Do you know this mural?

Please click here to submit the location — and, for unofficial bonus points, anything you know about it.

If you’re new to the newsletter, there’s a scavenger hunt on Fridays. In next week’s newsletter, I’ll shout out the first 10 readers who respond correctly and reveal the answer.

📸 Want to submit a photo? Please email me a snapshot of somewhere in the Portland metro area, and we’ll consider it for an upcoming “Where Is It?” segment!

Each week, we include favorite local spots and organizations picked by City Cast Portland Neighbors. It’s a member benefit, but it’s also a great way to get to know our city:

• 🫶 Reddit poster snoogazi | "There have been a lot of posts in Reddit Portland from newcomers talking about it being hard to find new friends here. So, a regular poster called Snoogazi posts gatherings they put together all the time for people to intentionally make friends. They have alcohol-free events mostly. They have people identified to help folks who are introverted or feel socially awkward. Knowing that snoogazi is out there creating camaraderie brings me a lot of joy. Shout out to snoogazi!" — Greg R.
• 🫖 Bumblebee Flowers & Tea | Lake Oswego | “Bumblebee Flowers & Tea in Lake Oswego is a delicious and delightful place to go for lunches, more traditional tea service, or dinners on Fridays & Saturdays. Their teas are carefully chosen along farm to tea standards and their meals are truly a culinary delight. Their lobster is outrageous! Although expensive, it is a real treat!” — Yahya Suzanna N.
• 🎥 Lake Theater & Cafe | Lake Oswego | “Great food/ambiance/film selection, even before it became world-famous [last] month.” — Doug T.

Become a City Cast Portland Neighbor today to share your own shoutout in this newsletter and on the podcast!